Derrill M. Kerrick

Derrill M. Kerrick, Professor of Geosciences, Ph.D. Berkeley, Metamorphic and igneous petrogenesis, fluids in the Earth, role of Earth degassing in global geochemical cycles

Summary of research:

For the first two decades of his career, Derrill Kerrick was actively involved in theoretical, experimental and field studies related to metamorphism. Within the past few years he has been engaged in research on present and past CO₂ degassing from the Earth. In particular, he has focused on CO₂ degassing from metamorphic decarbonation and from intrusive and extrusive magmatism. In addition to quantifying present and past CO₂ degassing fluxes, Kerrick has been involved in analysis of the origin, transport, crustal storage and expulsion of volatiles. Current areas of field studies on contemporary CO2 degassing include Central Italy and Mammoth Mountain in east-central California. In addition to studies of CO₂ emission from cold springs and vents in Central Italy (see publications), he is studying contemporary and past travertine formation associated with thermal springs. Kerrick is the lead P.I. on a recently-funded research program on subduction zone devolatilization. This study involves a combined computational and hydrothermal experimental program to quantify high-pressure phase equilibria for subducted carbonate-bearing lithologies. The goals are to quantify and track decarbonation along subducted slabs to elucidate subduction zone recycling of CO₂ and consequent implications to the global carbon cycle. 

Recent publications of D.M. Kerrick:

Kerrick, D.M., 2001, Present and past non-anthropogenic CO2 degassing from the solid Earth. Reviews of Geophysics, 39, 565-585.

Kerrick, D.M. and J.A.D. Connolly, 2001.  Metamorphic devolatilization of subducted marine sediments and the transport of volatiles into the Earth's mantle.  Nature, 411, 293-296.

Kerrick, D.M. and J.A.D. Connolly, 2001.  Metamorphic devolatilization of subducted oceanic metabasalts: implications for seismicity, arc magmatism and volatile recycling.  Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 189, 19-29.

Rogie, J.D., D. M. Kerrick, M.L. Sorey, G. Chiodini, D.L. Galloway, 2001.  Dynamics of carbon dioxide emission at Mammoth Mountain, California.  Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 188, 535-541.

Kerrick, D. M. and J.A.D. Connolly, 2001, Metamorphic devolatilization of subducted marine sediments: implications for CO2 and H2O recylcing. Nature, 411, 293-296.

Rogie, J.D., D.M. Kerrick, G. Chiodini, and F. Frondini, 2000.  Flux measurements of nonvolcanic CO₂ emission from some vents in Central Italy.  Journal of Geophysical Research, 105, B4, 8435-8445.

Kerrick, D.M. and K. Caldeira, 1999.  Was the Himalayan orogen a climatically-significant coupled source and sink for atmospheric CO₂ during the Cenozoic?  Earth & Planetary Science Letters, 173, 195-203.

Chiodini, G., Frondini, F., D.M. Kerrick, J. Rogie, F. Parello, A.R. Peruzzi, and A. Zanzari, 1999.  Quantification of deep CO₂ fluxes from Central Italy.  Examples of carbon balance for regional aquifers and of soil diffuse degassing.  Chemical Geology, 159, 205-222.

Kerrick, D.M. and J.A.D. Connolly, 1998.  Subduction of ophicarbonates and recycling of CO₂ and H₂O, Geology, 26, 375-378.

Kerrick, D. M., and K. Caldeira. Metamorphic CO₂ degassing form orogenic belts. Chem. Geol., 145:213-232, 1998.

Kerrick, D. M., and J. A. D. Connolly. Subduction of ophicarbonates and recycling of CO₂ and H₂O. Geology, 26:375-378, 1998.

Seward, T. M., and D. M. Kerrick. Hydrothermal CO₂ emission from the Taupo volcanic Zone, New Zealand, Earth Planet Sci. Lett. 139:105-13, 1996.

Nesbitt, B. E., C. A. Mendoza, and D. M. Kerrick. Surface fluid convection during Cordilleran extension and generation of metamorphic CO₂ contributions to Cenozoic atmospheres. Geology 23:99-101, 1995.

Kerrick, D. M., and K. Caldeira. Metamorphic CO₂ degassing and early Cenozoic paleoclimate. GSA Today 4:57-65, 1994.

Kerrick, D. M., and K. Caldeira. Paleoatmospheric consequences of CO₂ released during early Cenozoic regional metamorphism in the Tethyan orogen. Chem. Geol. 108:201-30, 1993.